The University of Connecticut

Date: Dec 23 2009
Major: Journalism (This Major's Salary over time)
I love Uconn, but it might not love you back. I entered as a business student with 24 credits (FROM HIGH SCHOOL, NOT TRANSFER CREDITS) already completed. Because of this, I was held to the GPA requirement of a junior to stay in the School of Business rather than be treated as a freshman. I did meet the freshman mark, but not the junior mark (I needed a 2.9, but I got a 2.7, which is the freshman minimum requirement). After one year, I was dismissed, even though the credits that counted towards my GPA were the amount a freshman gets. So I had 30 credits to get to where everyone else has 53. The worst part is that getting back in is impossible, even though i just got a 3.94 this semester. They will not make exceptions. They just don't care.

I don't want to scare anyone away, because it is a great place to be. Everyone I met was really nice and most people are open to be friends with anyone. I have so many different friends that I have little in common with but get along with great.

The faculty here can be frustrating. They are very approachable, but can be condescending if you are struggling, and have little time for understanding your issues. Just don't have issues. If you do your work (like I didn't do my 1st year, and did do my 2nd), you'll get the results you want.

Anybody who is not into the party life, that's totally fine. But don't shy away from a school because it as a party reputation. If you don't want to be anywhere near drinking, college isn't for you. That's a reality. Every school has a drinking culture to some extent. However, you will find that all of the bigger schools have a large base of students who have sober fun on weekends. The Student Union is packed every night, and the rec center (gym & pool) stays open til midnight every night. There is always something to do. The library is huge and has floors for quiet, or floors for studying with light chatter.

Athletic events are amazing. You really see the community come together and get behind the Huskies. But it's not like the only thing going on. I've heard friends say all anybody cares about at their school is the sports during the seasons. I love sports as much as anybody else, and I'm a die hard fan here, but it is never the main focus of the campus. You won't be distracted.

There is not much of a town around Storrs, but there are places all over campus to get anything you would ever need, a few local sit-down restaurants that are great, and a supermarket/walmart within reasonable distance. You will never feel stranded. Everything you would ever need is there.

Uconn is a very good place to be and it's becoming more highly regarded as an elite university.